Especially in the absence of a national draft, how exactly would this bill be legal?

A judge hearing a truancy case against a high school student could require the teen to enroll in the Louisiana National Guard or other branch of military service, under an amended bill that cleared the House Education Committee.

Outside of a national draft imposed by the federal government, where power is rooted in an interest of preservation of the nation in time of conflict, how can a state judge compel someone to service in one of the nation's armed forces, much less a minor? That seems like it might be a violation of the Eighth Amendment. (ADDED: I originally thought it might offend the 13th Amendment as well - but as the text states: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted").

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Letters in Bottles began in January 2005 as "Letters in Bottles: The Island Pundit" at the University of Wisconsin. Started by Steve S, the blog includes a number of regular contributors, all of whom met originally on the "island" of Madison. We are: A veteran of the Iraq War. A former Peace Corps volunteer in the Caucasus. A law student in New Orleans. An Engineering grad student. We comment regularly on politics, world affairs, culture, news, music, and much more.